Warriors Deadly Echoes: Dimming Starlight

Chapter 16

"This cannot be possible! The wolves came in leaf-bare! Why now?"
Badgerfang asked Foxstar as he stood above the Great Rock in the center of camp. The daylight gathering had come to a close and the Clans went to their respective territories and camps. "Maybe with five Clans, we can be more powerful!" Meowed Cindertail, her eyes beginning to gleam.
"But they have so little cats." Mosspuddle meowed, referring to TimberClan.
"Not to mention that they're strange cats starting their own Clan with WolfClan and ViperClan's help." Brackentail put in.
"Maybe Cindertail's right. Our solution to the wolves could be some good with five Clans." Wind meowed.
Beetail stood beside her leader. "We have returned from our journey. We have two cats who wished to join us. Rabbit and Willow," she looked to the mother and her she-kit, sitting beside each other. "I would also like to inform that I have information from the tribe that I think you would all like to know." Her voice was clear and serious. Foxstar pricked his ears. "From the tribe cats?" He muttered.
"They say that sometimes, deer scent drifts from the mountains and to the forest when they enter our land. But sometimes, deer isn't the only prey they can pick off. They're suddenly found cats easier." She went on, ignoring the fear that was nearly rising in her tone. "What about my kits? What will we do?" Tanglefoot wailed, curling her tail around her four kits.
"Maybe if we give the wolves a scratch or flay them, they won't come here again." Smokeclaw growled lowly, his eyes forming into slits as his hackles rose slightly.
"But if we do, they'll just antagonize us even more like they did those moons ago again." Darkpoppy meowed.
"These beasts must be driven way!" Clawpelt rasped.
"Easier said than done, how do we do it?" Shortfur asked.
"Beetail, take a patrol to Bravestar--that thick pelted cat that was by Onestar at the gathering earlier, and ask him to come to me and the other leaders at the gathering place just before sundown." Foxstar meowed, looking to his deputy.
"Of course. And Songcloud, show Willow and Rabbit around the camp." The AshClan deputy ordered the white she-cat who nodded her head and padded over to them as she, her apprentice Cedarpaw, Marshtail, Spottedheart, Mistwater, Brackentail, Smokeclaw, Oatheart, and Briarthroat all exited the camp to the Clan's territory know as TimberClan. As they walked, the forest gave way to mighty oaks that reached the sky. Soon enough, they found a makeshift camp of cats.
"Wow.." Briarthroat whispered to Oatheart.
A golden tabby and spotted she-cat walked over to them, sniffing them. "So you're AshClan?" She observed.
"Yes, and my leader wishes to speak to yours." Beetail meowed.
"Hm. Very well. Come." She turned with a flick of her tail for the cats to follow.
As they entered the camp, the number of cats was rather small. There were some cats they hadn't even noticed here or seen before other than the gathering, like a brown tom lazily flicking his tail on a log, a white and ginger tom with a stubby tail sunning himself, a cream she-cat padding in with a mouse, and two she-cats who were apprentices practicing battle moves.
"Bravestar, some cats wish to see you." The she-cat meowed as she approached a log.
Is she his deputy? Cedarpaw heard her voice.
A thick brown furred tom crawled out of the log to stand tall and look at the patrol. "Ah, thank you Leopardheart." He meowed to the she-cat with a warm gaze.
"Bravestar is it? Our leader--Foxstar of AshClan wishes to talk to you and the other Clan leaders at the gathering place just before sundown." Beetail explained.
"Tell him my presence shall be there." He meowed dipping his head respectfully.
It was going well. He had agreed to meet with the other leaders. Maybe this would be successful after all. Leopardheart looked over his shoulder. "Pikestalk, escort these cats out of camp." She meowed to the whote and ginger tom sunning. He padded over and led them out of the camp.